While kayaking round mainland UK in 1996 with a partially sighted lad, we encountered some very rough waters. One day in big seas, the bow of our 24-foot double was not touching the bottom of the trough and the stern was not touching the crest of the wave. I jokingly said that it would probably be easier to paddle the Atlantic Ocean than to endure the conditions we experienced. It was not until about six months later that I seriously considered researching the feasibility of a solo, unsupported crossing of the North Atlantic Ocean.
The following February I went to our annual canoe and kayak show where all the retailers and builders would be, and I started to plan the challenge. The show was the ideal opportunity to gain valuable contacts and seek sponsorship. However, only two companies were willing to help:one to supply the paddles and one who was interested in building the kayak, for a fee. I wanted a boat that could carry 100 days' worth of supplies, be self-righting, that I could sleep in, and yet it should still look like a kayak.

In just two days, Jason Rice (a member of the company who built the kayak) came up with a working model. A civilian branch of the Navy, called Haslar, checked the design by using a model in simulated conditions in a special water tank to test the sea-worthiness of a ship. After successfully completing the tests, construction began. A friend put me onto a retired businessman named Jim Rowlinson. We had a meeting to discuss what I had accomplished to date. Jim was influenced by my determination and believed the project would be a success. He became the project manager, on the condition that he received no payment, and set about raising the money needed. In 1999 we travelled together to St. Johns in Newfoundland, the starting point of the journey. Through a number of contacts we were lucky to meet Linda Bartlett, who worked for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Tourism, Culture and Recreation department. Linda was impressed by our enthusiasm and had every faith in what we were trying to achieve. She helped us immensely to fulfil our needs in Newfoundland: gear storage, accommodations, transport. Linda also introduced us to key personnel needed to help us once we arrived with the kayak. As luck would have it, there was a sea kayak symposium in Corner Brook to which I was invited to give a presentation on my planned challenge.